DKEDC Celebrates National Entrepreneurship Month 2023

Entrepreneurs are heroes and innovation is the name of the game. Entrepreneurs see problems, find solutions, and create answers. 

November is National Entrepreneurship Month, a month-long celebration thanks to the deserving recognition of the tireless efforts entrepreneurs consistently give. National Entrepreneurship Day is annually acknowledged on the third Tuesday of November. 

Dickinson County EDC Recognizes Our Entrepreneurs

National Entrepreneurship Month is the perfect time to celebrate Dickinson County’s exceptional entrepreneurs. These individuals’ innovative ideas make Dickinson County known as a place where economic growth is fostered! To highlight, here are two local entrepreneurs and their stories of innovation: 

Dennis Vahsholtz is an entrepreneurial hero by local and world standards. He created Discs Unlimited in 1987, when he couldn’t find local discs for his newfound disc golf hobby. Located in the heart of Herington, Kansas, Discs Unlimited is now one of the largest disc golf distributors in the world, shipping worldwide from this ideal central U.S. location. Ever the entrepreneur, Vahsholtz grew beyond discs to design many courses around the U.S., and his business name stems from having an unlimited resource of anything a disc golfer might need to enjoy the popular sport. Discs Unlimited was a 2022 “To The Stars: Kansas Business Award” merit award winner for Cool Things Made in Kansas. For more information, contact Disc Unlimited.     

Abilene native entrepreneur John McDonald changed the operations of farm, ranch, and livestock production businesses with his development of Rawhide Portable Corral and Livestock Equipment. Twenty years ago, McDonald saw a need in the livestock industry, invented a solution, and developed the first hydraulic portable corral on wheels. Still the #1 selling portable corral on wheels, McDonald continues to make innovative changes to his designs – with more advancements in progress – all while being built in Abilene for customers all over the U.S. In 2022, Rawhide Portable Corral was awarded the “To The Stars: Kansas Business Award” Northeast regional award for Manufacturing/Distribution by the Kansas Department of Commerce. For more information, contact Rawhide Portable Corral and Livestock Equipment.

Dickinson County Welcomes New Businesses

Businesses move to Dickinson County to grow and thrive. We have a strong entrepreneurial culture, with entrepreneurs moving from outside of the state to launch their companies. In addition, our strong agricultural and manufacturing industries exist because of local entrepreneurs who have the drive and access to the resources necessary to start and grow their companies.

“Dickinson County has a long-standing history of a rich entrepreneurial spirit. Our county seat, Abilene, grew quickly in the 1860s and became the first ‘cow town’ of the west and the destination for the Chisholm Trail cattle drive. Abilene, along with Herington, became railway hubs, leading the charge,” said Jessica Goodale, Executive Director of the Dickinson County Economic Development Corporation (DKEDC).

“That same drive is seen today in the tenacity of our local industries,” Goodale adds. “We are still ideally located for manufacturing, distribution, agriculture, and transportation industries with most of our communities intersecting at Interstate 70 (I-70), K-15 highway (K-15), and U.S. Route 77 (US-77).”

The DKEDC knows that starting a new business can be a daunting endeavor, so we’ve gathered all the information needed to help you find the confidence to put your wheels into motion. National Entrepreneurship Month is the best time to get started. On our Starting A Business page, you will find helpful resources under these five tabs:

• Plan
• Start
• Operate
• Grow
• Sell/Close

No matter where you are in your entrepreneurial journey, DKEDC’s Starting A Business page is one of the quickest and most comprehensive resources at your fingertips.

The DKEDC offers support and resources to businesses already existing within the county and those interested in moving here. If you’d like to open, relocate, or expand your business in Dickinson County, contact DKEDC for more information. The conversation you have today could be the beginning of your tomorrow.